University of Deusto – Centenary Auditorium, Bilbao, 18 and 19 October.
Women en route: Violence and displacement in five regions of Africa
Every day 44.400 people find themeselves forced to flee from their countries due to poverty and violence. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone there are over five million people, mostly women, in this situation.
On their way to Europe, taking refuge in neighbouring countries or displaced in their home country, women are subject to situations of extreme vulnerability and violence, with no access to basic human rights.
Last year, a private legacy enabled the ALBOAN Foundation to set up the MIEZA program. This program was designed to reinforce the foundation’s work in supporting women who undergo violence, in order to guarantee their physical and emotional well-being, as well as their social reinsertion, and to help them determine and own their own futures.
In October 2017, and in cooperation with the Universidad de Deusto, the Jesuit Refugees service and the Vedruna sisters, we began a stage of diagnosis. This led us to visit five parts of Africa where we held personal and group interviews with refugees and displaced women. We were able to obtain first-hand accounts of the violent experiences they had undergone during their migratory travels, as well as hear their demands and expectations.
At the International Congress entitled “Women en route: violence and displacement in five regions of Africa” we want to expose the situation and demands of these women, share the results of the diagnostic reviews and reflect on the improvements needed in our practices to face up to this reality.
To this end we will be assisted by well-known activists in Human Rights and women’s rights such as Victoria Nyanjura from Uganda, Justine Masika from DR Congo, Caddy Adzuba and Itziar Ruiz Gimenez, among others, as well as representatives of universities, public institutions, African organisations and international humanitarian aid organisations.
Program (download here as a pdf)
| 09.15-10:00 | Registration |
|
10.00-10.45 |
Opening and Welcome to the Congress. Tribute to Rafael Mieza. Presentation of the International Congress. |
| 10.45-11:45 |
Violence in Africa and its impact on women. Female empowerment after violence: how to start afresh? |
| 11.45-12.15 | Break |
|
12.15-13.15 |
First-hand experiences: The impact of violence on women at frontiers and their coping strategies. |
|
13.15-14.00 |
Violence in war settings: Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
| 14.00-15.00 |
Lunch |
| 15.00-15.30 | Music performance: Eneko Larrañaga "ENEKORA" |
| 15.30-17.00 |
Mieza program: A comprehensive approach to the situation of displaced and refugee women in Africa. |
| 17.00-17.30 | Break |
| 17.30-18.45 | Echoes of diagnosis. Itziar Ruiz Giménez. Coordinator of the African Studies Group of the UAM. Caddy Adzuba. Activist for women’s rights, DRC. Pepe Naranjo. Freelance journalist, specialist in western Africa |
| 18.45-19.00 | Conclusions of the day Dani Villanueva sj, Executive Vice President of ALBOAN Foundation. |
| 09.00-09.30 | Registration of attendees |
|
09.30-10.00 |
Session opening: Storytelling Show “El Canto de la Guarura” by Cruz Noguera. |
| 10.00-11.30 |
Round table 1. From our institutions: What changes should be made to contribute to transform this reality? |
| 11.30-12.00 | Break |
|
12.00-13.15 |
Round table 2. From the humanitarian sector: New practices for new realities. |
| 13.15-13.45 |
The paths ahead. Closing of the Congress. |
